Reversing mechanism



(No Model.)

F. E. GOWEN. REVERSING MBGHANISM.

No. 580,272. Patented-Apr. 6, 1897.

WITNESSES IN VENTOI? %W V ATTORNEYS.

LTHO. wnsnmawn u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FRANK E. GOWEN, OF NORRIE, COLORADO.

REVERSING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,272, dated April 6, 1897. Application filed May 20, 1896. Serial No. 592,289. (No model.)

T0 to whom, it ntcty concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. GOWEN, of Norrie, in the county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, have inventeda new and Improved Reversing Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to sawmill sets and like machines, and its object is to provide a new and improved reversing mechanism arranged to enable the operator to conveniently impart a turning motion in either direction to a shaft, wheel, or a like device.

The invention consists principally of a ratchetwheel, an arm mounted to swing loosely on the shaft of the said wheel, and a lever fulcrumed on the said arm and carrying a double pawl adapted to engage the said ratchet to turn the latter in either direction, the said lever and arm being adapted to be locked together.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimprovement as applied on a sawmill-carriage and head-block. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation with parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of part of the same with the lever and arm in a different position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a movable lug, and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same.

The setting-shaft A, journaled in the headblock B of a sawmill-carriage C, carries a ratchet wheel D, having V-shaped teeth adapted to be engaged by either the pawl E or E, secured or formed on the lower end of ahand-lever F, fulcrumed at F on an arm G, loosely fulcrumed on the shaft A.

The upper end of the arm G is somewhat tapering to engage either side of the lug H, fitted to slide in suitable guideways form ed in the lever F, said lug H being provided with an extension H, arranged on one side of the lever F and connected with a link I, pivotally connected with the hand-lever J, fulcrumed on the handle end of the lever F.

A spring K, coiled on the link I, presses on the extension H, so as to hold the lugH normally in a lowermost position for the free end of the arm G to engage the said lug at either of its sides. When the operator presses the hand-lever J, an upward pull is exerted on the link I, whereby the lug H is drawn outwardly out of engagement with the free end G of the arm G. The latter can now swing with its free end to the opposite side of the lug H, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 4, the arm being again locked in'place upon the operator releasing the lever J.

Now it will be seen that when the several parts are in the position as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the operator moves the lever F in the direction of the arrow at the pawl E, on account of being in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel D, rotates the latter in the direction of the arrow a. On the movement of the lever F in the inverse direction of the arrow a, the pawl E will readily glide over the teeth of the ratchetwheel D without turning the same.

When it is desired to turn the ratchetwheel D in the inverse direction of the arrow, the operator presses the hand-lever J to temporarily withdraw the lug H from the free end of the arm G to permit of moving its free end to the opposite side of the lug H, as indicated in Fig. \Vhen the hand-lever J is released, the spring K returns the lug H into its innermost position, so that the lever F and the arm G again stand at angles one to the other, but in an opposite direction to that which they previously had.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that in changing the position of the arm G relative to the lever F the pawl E is moved out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel D, While the other pawl E is moved in mesh with the said ratchet-wheel.

When the lever F is moved in the inverse direction of the arrow 0, and the pawl E turns the ratchet-wheelD in the said inverse direction and during the forward movement of the lever F in the direction of the arrow at, the pawl zE'glides over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. Between the free end G of the arm G and the lug H there is sufficient space to permit a slight swinging motion of the lever F, so that the pawl E or E can move out of contact with and glide over the teeth on the return movement of the lever F. The swinging motion of the lever F and arm G is limited by a stop L, secured on the'carriage 0.

In order to lock thesetting-shaft A in place, whenever it is desired, I provide a dog N, pivotally connected by a link N with a *treadle O, hung loosely by a strap 0 on the shaft A.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described the operator by simply taking hold of the handle ofthe lever F can readily manipulate the said lever and impart the desired motion to the settingshaft A, either in a forward or a backward direction. The operator'by-having the hand-lever J within convenient reach can readily change the position of the lug on said lever F relatively to the arm G to accomplish the desired result.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A reversing mechanism, comprising a ratchet-wheel, an arm mounted to swing from the-shaft of the said wheel, a lever fulcrumed on the said arm and carrying two pawls adapted to engage the said ratchet-wheel to turn the latter in either direction, and means for engaging the lever and arm, whereby both may be moved together in either direction, substantially as shown and described.

2. A reversing mechanism, comprising a ratchet-Wheel, an arm mounted to swing from the shaft of the said wheel, a lever fulcrumed on the said arm and carrying two pawls adapted to engage the said ratchet-wheel to turn the latter in either direction, and a movable lug on the said lever and adapted to be engaged by either side of the free end of the said arm, substantially as shown and described.

3. A reversing mechanism, provided with an arm mounted loosely on a ratchet-wheel shaft as a fulcrum, a lever fulcrumed on the said arm and provided with ratchet-pawls, and a lug fittedto slide in the saidleverand adapted Lobe engaged on either side by the free end of the said arm, substantially as shown and described.

4. A reversing mechanism, provided with an arm mounted loosely on a ratchet-wheel shaft as a fulcrum; a lever fnlcrumed on the said arm and provided with ratchet-pawls,a lug fitted to slide in the said lever. and adapted to be engaged on either side by the free end of the said arm, and means held on the said lever for controlling the movement of the said lug, substantially as shown and described.

, FRANK 'E. GOWEN.

Witnesses:

W. A. POLKINGHORN, CHARLES H. BAILEY. 

